TOPICAL BUDGET COMPILATION AND MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SHORT [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: TOPICAL BUDGET COMPILATION AND MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SHORT [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: MGH 282
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: Topical Budget compilation featuring items from issue numbers 363-2, 364-1 and 364-2, released in August 1918. Also included is a brief propaganda short 'What's The Use In Grumblin' issued by the Ministry of Information.
  • Description: ''Twas a Glorious Victory”: "General Currie describes fight for Vimy Ridge to Canadian Pressmen on historic battle ground." General Currie describes the scene to seated journalists. [Topical Budget issue 364-1] “Haig’s Men Hit Out”: "Battle-scarred village whence Huns were driven in fierce hand-to-hand fight." British troops in ruins of village. Scenes of destruction. Dead horse. "Batteries of French 75s in action". Panning shots of French troops and artillery fire on hillside. [Topical Budget issue 364-1] “The Great Allied Victory”: "Recent Battle-Scenes and Incidents in France. Unable to resist Allied pressure the Huns burn their billets." Smoke on distant hillside. "Heavy British Guns moved up to forward positions". Artillery guns firing. "London regiments going into action". Troops marching. "British cavalry got its chance with disastrous effect on the Huns". Cavalry ride past in formation down road. "Our gallant Italian Allies fought splendidly at the guns". Italian troops loading shells into large gun. "The enemy paid heavy toll, they were meeting our men in open warfare". Corpses lying in wooded area. "Our losses were comparatively small. British, French and Italian wounded quite pleased with themselves". Groups of wounded men smiling for the camera. "Germans who were glad to be captured". German prisoners marching past. Some smile at camera. "'The Black Watch’, a famous Scottish regiment." [Topical Budget issue 364-2] “Princess ‘Pat’ Christens Asc Gift Aeroplane”: "Pretty ceremony at Osterley Park attended by Duke of Connaught." Dignitaries arrive. Princess breaks bottle on propeller of biplane with hammer. "Lieutenant AC Anderson, who piloted the machine to France". Pilot by plane. Plane takes off. [Topical Budget issue 363-2] “Children of Our Fallen Heroes”: "Southwark gives them an enjoyable holiday treat." Children seated at long tables in open air being attended to by adults. Papers are handed out to them and they wave these at the camera. [Topical Budget issue 363-2] “Perilous Climbing Feat”: "Italian Alpine soldier’s intrepid display." Vertical panning shot of man climbing rope to top of tall bell tower. [Topical Budget issue 363-2] “Paris Carrying On”: "Not afraid of Huns or likely to be so." Passers-by on pavement. Newspapers for sale. People at steps of large building. Butcher’s shop and greengrocer’s. "The Bois de Boulogne". Lakeside scenes. [Topical Budget issue 363-2] “National Eisteddfod”: "Freedom of Neath for Lloyd George during the great Welsh Festival." Women and girls parade in Welsh costume. Druids on a stone. [2ND SUBTITLE]: "'KEEP STEADY, AYE, KEEP STEADY, AND ALL WILL BE WELL’. MR LLOYD GEORGE’S MESSAGE FROM NEATH". Lloyd George with Mayor of Neath and other dignitaries. Inspects troops. View from middle of crowd watching him pass. Lloyd George talks to some soldiers and is cheered by women munition workers. [Topical Budget issue 363-2] Ministry of Information short: “What’s the use of grumblin’?” “Mrs Grousin-Jones Before The war: You make the beds abominably”. Mrs Grousin- Jones admonishes her maid for not making the beds properly. “I can’t sleep a wink”. The maid leaves and Mrs Grousin-Jones applies perfume to herself liberally. “Her son before the war”. Mrs Grousin-Jones’ son is seen being punted down a river by young lady on a warm summer’s day. “Deuced hot isn’t it?” “Mrs Grousin-Jones after three years of war”. Mrs Grousin-Jones is seen making her own bed [presumed implication is that the maid is now employed in a role connected to the war effort]. “Likewise her son”. Mrs Grousin-Jones’ son is seen fighting in the trenches. “Damned hot this, isn’t it?” [a contrast to the warm summer’s day punting on the river]. “What’s the use of being in Maidenhead if the guns won’t let you sleep?” Mrs Grousin-Jones sits up quickly in bed, no doubt worrying about her son, away fighting. “A clear conscience makes a soft pillow”. Film ends abruptly.
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: No
  • Object_Number: MGH 282
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions:
  • Featured Period:
  • Production Date: 1918-08
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: War Office (Production sponsor) Ministry of Information (Production sponsor) Topical Film Company (Production company)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations:Lloyd George, David (person)
  • Keywords:
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent
  • Technical Details: Format: 16mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 394ft
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    MGH 282

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